The car ride to the Marin household was very quiet, which I think was making Hanna uncomfortable because she is normally so loud and bubbly. We arrive at her place to see that her Mums car was actually in the driveway, I look at Hanna and she just shrugs. We both hop out of the car and head up to the front door, Hanna hands me the keys on the way up to her house.

Hanna yells out once inside "Mum! Where are you!?"

Ms Marin yells back "In the kitchen Hanna! Why are you even home!?" I follow quietly behind Hanna as she leads me into the kitchen/dinner room; Ms Marin turns around at the sound of footsteps, probably ready to blast at Hanna for ditching school.

She then sees me and said "Oh Hello Emily."

I reply quietly with "Hello Ms Marin."

Ms Marin said "Now Emily I have told you and the girls many times now to call me Ashley."

I replied with "Right, sorry M…Ashley."

Hanna said "Emily why don't you go up to my room, I'll be up in a minute."

I say "Okay," I walked out of the room and to the stairs that are near the front door. I head up them to Hanna's room and get comfy in her room waiting for her.

Hanna's P.O.V

Mum asked "What are you two doing home so early, its barely even 11?" I look behind me to see if Emily had actually gone upstairs and I was reviled when I found her not behind me.

I say "Relax Mum."

Mum said "Relax? How can I relax when my daughter and her friend are skipping school? Though I'm surprised to not see Aria, Spencer and Allison behind you."

I replied with "Please Mum Spencer skipping school?"

Mum said "Okay maybe not her but why are you two home?"

I look again just to be sure, before saying "Emily got a bad phone call before."

Mum asked "What do you mean Hanna?"

I answer with "Her Mum rang her while we were studying in the library like we all have to do, anyway I don't know all the details but I do know the important ones." Mum gives me a hand motion to tell to continue.

I do with "Emily's Mum was over in Texas this weekend seeing her Dad, the phone call was her Mum Emily took it outside and all I really know is; both her parents are now dead."

Mum had shock all over her face, she replied with "Are you serious?"

I said "Yeah I am Mum, I wish I wasn't. I wish we were skipping school and it wasn't this."

I go onto say "Emily didn't really want to deal with school and couldn't go back to her house and I was with her at the time because I had to take her to the school nurse. I didn't think she should be on her own so I brought her here, I didn't think you would be home either."

Mum replied with "Yeah I can understand that, tell her she can stay here as long as she needs to. Wait why did she need to go to the nurse? I wasn't going to be home but I wasn't feeling to great so my boss told me to go home."

I answered with "Emily kind of punched a wall at school, okay."

Mum asked "A'ww okay, do you girls need anything?"

I replied with "No I think Emily will be sleeping or crying, but tomorrow there's going to be an important letter delivered."

Mum said "What do you mean?"

I answer with "Emily rang someone to find out if they were defiantly dead and she gave them our address since she didn't think she be home to collect it."

Mum getting the hint about what the letter was, said "Okay that's fine, go be with her Han. She is going to need you and the other girls."

I say "I know Mum, the girls don't know yet so if they come over after school they think we're both sick."

Mum replied with "Okay I won't say a word but they should probably know."

I said "Yeah I know that, but whatever Emily wants we have to respect that."

Mum replied with "True, now go be with her." I gave my Mum a hug before heading upstairs to my room, to see Emily. I opened my bedroom door to see Emily lying down on my bed hugging one of my other pillows and was sleeping. I could see by the light outside that under her eyes there were tears Emily had just cried herself to sleep, I automatically felt for her.

Just a few hours ago we were talking about how Emily ditch us at the party when really we ditched her and now her whole world has blown up and I didn't even know what to say. I walked quietly into the room and grabbed a blanket off of my desk chair and I place it onto of Emily. I smiled a small one when I saw her snuggle into it; I walked over to the window and closed the blind making it a little bit dark in my room. I walked back over to the door and close it. I head downstairs to watch some TV in the lounge room while really thinking about what to say to Emily, I was usually very good at words but right now I had no words to say.

I was halfway through watching an Oprah episode she had just given away another car, I heard someone coming down the stairs; I hit the mute button and a couple seconds later Emily was walking in with bed hair.

Emily say "Hey," she then takes a seat on the lounge next to me.

I replied with "Hi."

Emily asked "Are you seriously watching Oprah?"

I smiled and answered with "Yeah it was the only good thing on."

Emily nodded and said "Sorry, I don't even remember falling asleep."

I replied with "It's okay Emily, you did say you wanted to sleep."

Emily said "That is true."

I asked "How are you?"

Emily sighed and answered with "Honestly I have no idea, is there way you're supposed to feel with these type of things?"

I shrug and say "I have no idea; I don't even really know what to say."

Emily smiles a small one and said "That makes two of us," she then leans over so that her head is now lying on my chest. I can't help but wrap my arm around her and holding with the one arm.

I then say "We'll get through this."

Emily didn't say anything so I ask "Are you going to tell the girls?"

Emily replied with "I don't know, maybe. I know, they should know. But I just don't know."

I say "Okay well I'll do whatever you need me to do."

Emily asked "Does your Mum know?"

I answered with "Yeah, I hope that's okay that I told her."

Emily said "Its fine Hanna, she needed to know."

I went to reply when Emily said "You don't need to say anything Hanna."

I reply with "I don't."

Emily said "No you don't, let's just sit here and watch Oprah," I nodded my head knowing she felt. I pick up the remote, to hit the mute button and the sound of the crowd cheering flows into the room.

Emily P.O.V

We had spent the rest of the day barely talking to each other; we had eaten some chocolate chip ice-cream which was really good. At 4:30pm exactly the doorbell rang, I looked at Hanna and she was looking at me.

Hanna then said "It's probably the girls; they said they might come over after school."

I replied with "Right."

Hanna asked "Do you want to see them?" the doorbell rang again.

I replied with "Sure."

Hanna said "Okay, I'll go let them in." Hanna stood up from her spot on the lounge and walked over to the door. At Hanna's house, the lounge room was in the middle of the kitchen and the front door/stairs; so I can't see the girls and they can't see me. I heard a few mumbles of word being exchanges but nothing clearly, I knew Hanna wouldn't tell them what had happen; I knew I could trust her. I soon see Hanna leading Allison, Aria and Spencer all into the lounge room; Hanna sits back down on the lounge next to me. I rest my head on her shoulder again and she wraps her arm around me again.

The girls all find their own seats around us; I then say "Hey."

Spencer replied with "Hey how are you?"

I answered with "Meh."

Aria then asked "Something you two want to tell us?" I look at Hanna's face which is matching the same confused look my face is probably showing right now.

Hanna replied with "What do you mean?"

Allison points to Hanna's arm around me and I say "Oh! Now I get it."

Hanna asked "Would you like to fill me in Em?"

I replied with "They think were together, together."

Hanna said "Oh!" before bursting out laughing and I soon join her. It wasn't the best time for laughs but I was really needed.

Hanna then said "No, defiantly not."

Spencer asked "Then what's with the arm around the shoulder?"

I replied with "What? Can't two best friends cuddle?"

Spencer quickly said "No, no they can."

I say "Don't panic Spence. It's fine; I understand what you were meaning. But no Hanna and I are not together."

Aria asked "So are you two coming back to school tomorrow?" Hanna and I both look at each other; I hadn't thought that far ahead.

Hanna replied with "Were not sure."

Spencer said "Guys this is our senior year, we can't afford days off."

Alli said "Yeah you guys aren't even sick, we all know what you look like when you're sick." I kind of cuddled up closer to Hanna and I felt her pulling me in closer to her.

Hanna asked "Are you okay?"

I reply with "You know the answer to that."

Hanna said "It might have changed."

I answered with "I don't think it will be for a while."

Alli then asked "Umm…Hello we are here too, what's going?" I shake my head at Hanna and she gets the message straight away.

Hanna replied with "Nothing's going one, were just not sure on school tomorrow."

Spencer was going to say something when Ashley walked in saying "Emily…oh sorry I didn't know the other girls were here."

Hanna said "It alright Mum, they've only been here for a minute."

I say "It's fine Ashley, what was it that you need?"

Ashley smiled and said "Someone's on the phone for you?"

I asked "Do you know who?" she walked over to the middle of Hanna and I to whisper who had rang; it was my Dad's Dad.

I say "Okay I'll come take it," I stand up from my comfy spot on the lounge and follow Ashley out to the kitchen where the phone is.

Ashley said "I'll give you some space."

I replied with "Thanks."

I take a couple of deep breaths before picking the phone up and saying "Grandpa Hello."

Grandpa said "Emily hello sweetie, we just got the phone call."

I say "Yeah, how's Grandma?"

Grandpa said "Not good she just lost her son and daughter-in-law, but you just lost your Mum and Dad."

I replied with "Yeah they rang me before it happen."

Grandpa said "Really? What did they say?"

I answered with "Not a whole lot, just that they loved me and want me to leave with my best friends family."

Grandpa said "Yeah your Dad told us about that."

I replied with "What do you mean?"

Grandpa said "Before your Dad went on his tours he always made sure we knew that if they both died, you should live with your friends."

I replied with "Right and are you okay with that?"

Grandpa said "It's what they want; their wishes have to be respected."

I replied with "Yeah don't take this the wrong way but I really want to stay in Rosewood."

Grandpa laughed and said "Meaning there's a girl there you like."

I say "Grandpa!"

Grandpa said "Hey we get it, you need your friends. Hey wait you didn't say no to the girl."

I giggle and say "There might be someone."

Grandpa said "That's my girl. I know it probably seems wrong to be happy especially today, but your parents wouldn't want you to be sad for too long. Have you told anyone?"

I replied with "Two people know."

Grandpa said "Emily that's no good, you need your friends around you especially at a time like know."

I replied with "Yeah I know, they probably want to know how injured my hand."

Grandpa said "What did you do to your hand?"

I answered with "Its nothing Grandpa, hey look I got to go."

Grandpa said "Yeah sure you do, I rang to tell you that we're flying out tomorrow should be there in a couple more days."

I then asked "Hey wait how did you know to ring here?"

Grandpa replied with "You don't think your Dad would have given us all your friends' numbers before leaving to go somewhere far away from his little girl."

I said "You've got a point there; I guess I'll see you soon."

Grandpa replied with "Looks like it, see you sweetie."

I say "Bye Grandpa, say hello to Grandma please."

Grandpa said "Will do, bye."

I press the end call button on the phone and take a few deep breaths, that wasn't too bad.

I then hear "Sorry if you're not finished I can go back out."

I replied with "Ashley its fine."

Ashley asked "Okay, is it too much if I asked what he wanted?"

I answered with "No its fine, he was letting me know him and my Grandma are travelling here tomorrow."

Ashley asked "Do you know what for?"

I replied with "I didn't ask but probably to pack up the house and the funeral, mum and Dad want to be buried here."

Ashley said "If they pack up your house where will you live?"

I replied with "My parents' wishes were that I was to live here or with one of my friends."

Ashley said "Well you're welcome to stay here of course; the guest bedroom will become your room."

I say "Thank-you Ashley that will make stressing about other stuff easier."

Ashley replied with "Your welcome Emily."

I said "I can get a job to pay house and board, also help with chorus and I can cook."

Ashley smiles before saying "Its okay Emily you don't need to do any of those things, just keep up with your studies there what's important; though if you feel like cooking food it won't go uneaten."

I replied with "Thank-you Ashley."

Ashley said "Your Welcome Emily, I'm sorry about your parents."

I replied with "Thank-you Ashley, I'm going to go back to the girls."

Ashley said "Okay remember Emily if you ever need to talk, no matter what time of the day I'm always here."

I replied with "Thank-you Ashley," before walking around her and out to the lounge room to the girls.

I walked back into the room and Hanna immediately asked "Is everything okay?"

I replied with "Yeah it's all good," I sit back down next to Hanna and we go straight to cuddling each other.

Aria asked "Is your Grandpa okay?"

I answered with "Yeah he's fine."

Alli asked "Why didn't he ring your phone?" I look at Hanna who shrugs; it's time to tell them.

I say "There's something I have to tell you."

Hanna asked straight away "Emily are you sure?"

I replied with "Yeah they deserve to know."

Spencer asked "Deserve to know what?"

I take a deep breath before saying "I smashed my phone against a wall outside of the library; I didn't like what had just happen. As you know my Mum was over in Texas seeing my Dad, the phone call I got was from them. I can't go into the details not now, my, there, they umm…" I was a mess I couldn't say the words.

I say "Hanna I can't."

Hanna replied with "Ssh…It's okay go upstairs, I'll tell them." I nod my head before standing up from the lounge and without even looking at them I walk out of the room and upstairs to Hanna's room.

Hanna P.O.V

It was painful to see Emily just crumble like that, she always been the strong one through everything and now she just falling into pieces.

I jump at the sound of Aria asking "Hanna, what's going on?" I look over at them concern all over their faces, even Alli's.

I say "The base over in Texas where Emily's Dad was station at got ambushed they were in their house at the time so they hid in a closet so they could ring Emily. Emily's parents are both dead." The words just left my mouth and I felt sick just saying them, how can this happen to people daily and how can people get over it; how do they move on.

Spencer said "Are you sure?"

I answered with "Yes I am, we are very sure."

Aria said "Poor Em," we all nods our heads.

After a bit of quiet Alli said "We have to be there for her no matter what, she always stuck by us now it's our turn and we can't screw it up."

Spencer said "Agreed."

I say "Agreed."

Aria said "Agreed."

Alli asked "Do you know where she staying? Or leaving?"

I replied with "No I don't."

My Mum's voice comes in saying "She's staying here; the guest bedroom will become her room."

I asked "Are you sure?"

Mum said "Yes her parents wanted her to live at a friend house and I think they meant here."

Spencer asked "How do you know that?"

Mum answered with "It kind of makes sense, you all have siblings expected for Hanna."

Aria said "Yeah it makes sense we you put it like that."

Mum then said "But no matter where she stays you girls are welcome here whenever, as long as it's alright with your parents and no one's studies gets affect."

We all nodded our head and Mum said "She will need you and it may not be now, she might try to push you all way but keep fighting. You girls are strong on your own but you're stronger together." The way Mum was talking like it was a life or death situation was creepy, but it kind of was. If we give up on her for just a mile second she will spiral and it will be nasty. We all made a packed in grade 6 to stick by each other no matter what; and we weren't going to break it now.